Quarter Horses have upper hand in mixed-breed Trick or Treat Handicap

For months, the 870- and 1,000-yard mixed-breed races at Los Alamitos have been dominated by Thoroughbreds. In Saturday’s $20,000 Trick or Treat Handicap at 870 yards, two 4-year-old Quarter Horses geldings command attention.

Ballast Point won an 870-yard stakes at Los Alamitos last December and has since won two allowance races and finished second in two stakes at the distance. In his career, Ballast Point has won 4 of 6 starts at 870 yards.

JB Gray Dawn has won 4 of 9 starts at 870 yards, including a stakes at Los Alamitos last December. In the spring, JB Gray Dawn had three starts at 870 yards in Oklahoma, winning once. The Trick or Treat Handicap is JB Gray Dawn’s first start since July.

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Ballast Point and JB Gray Down, both trained by Paul Jones, are part of a field of six in the Trick or Treat Handicap, the last of eight races at Los Alamitos on Saturday evening. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Trick or Treat Handicap is Ballast Point’s first start since a troubled fourth-place finish in the Los Alamitos Challenge Championship at 440 yards on Aug. 14.

Of the four Thoroughbreds in the field, Project Leader has become a course specialist, winning three of four starts at 870 or 1,000 yards this year. Project Leader drew the rail, which will force jockey Minor Arana to gain position early in the race.

Love Your Life, who drew the outside post, can be a factor. He has won two 1,000-yard races in his last three starts.